The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-11
TWO IMPRESSIVE SERMONS.
Bishop Mallalieu Preaebes to a Large
Gathering Of Colored People.
Ordination Services at Simpson Chapel Yes.
terday-Chaplain McCabe Tells of a
Wonderful Missionary Work.

Yesterday morning. there large audience
at Simpson Chapel, where the Lexington Con-
ference has been holding its sessions, love-
feast preceding the preaching service. There
was fervor and earnestness in the singing and
o directness and force in the experiences they
were briefly related that were admirable. A
hymn would be started by a singer here or there
in the congregation, and every one would join
in the song, even the smallest child appearing
to know the words of every tune that was sung.
The church was crowded. and it was beautiful
sight to see twenty-five little children, boys and
girls, 60 forward and take seats upon the steps
of the pulpit And they were quiet and orderly
through the entire service.
The preaching services were opened with
prayer by DR.. Hunt, of the American Bible So
ciety, and Rev. A. A. Price read the lesson
the twelfth chapter of Romans The sermon
preached by Bishop Mallalieu, of New
Orleans. The Bishop took as his text Romans
xii, 1-2:
beseech ye therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God that We present your bodies living sacrifice
holy. acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service
And be not confor1ned to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that We
may what is that good and acceptable, and per-
feet will Of God.
THE Bible is the unparalleled volume of the
worlds libraries. This portion, the Epistle TO
the Romans, from which the text is taken, in
many respects, is one of the most remarkable
portions OF this unparalleled book. II you turn
back to the first chapter you find description
given of the lost, and helpless and hopeless con
dition of humanity. A picture of its depravty
and vileness is given, such as perhaps is found
nowhere else in the volume of inspiration, and
yet true to the facts in human life. Following
along the line of the apostles thought. We find
that he unfolds to US Gods thoughts of mercy
concerning humanity, and. WELL unfolds the
plan of redemption by which God proposes to
save men. and reveals to US the scope of this
plan, showing US that no child of Adam is left
out in the thought of that divine mercy. Then
he goes to explain and illustrate how we,
snd rebels against Goa 'ni by 0y continual 4rsa
years OF sin, may come into the posses
has provided for in the gospel This consti-
tutes you see, does other portion of
Scripture, what may be termed the philosophy
OF the plan of salvation. In this chapter he pre-
sents to us portraiture of the Christian char
acter, resultant of Gods work of redemption
and salvation in the human soul. We shall find
that this chapter constitutes what NAV be
termed standard of measurement or test of
character because we shall find here measure
by which we may determine relations to
God. our relations to Jesus Christ-that perfect
character which God has condescended to give
to humanity. Set not your mind on high things,
but condescend to things that are lowly.' That
is to say, be content with the lowly things in
life that God gives you. so that there
shall not be murmurings, or complainings,
or envy of those you may think more
fortunately situated than yourself. How many
preachers have known who wanted the best ap-
poIntments, and how many who wanted to be
made presiding elders. If you have this to such
nvta 4 -
by the standard of this chapter, you lack some
of the elements Of Christian character: you are
not 80 good as you ought to be. Rejoicing in
hope Not he that rejoices when everything
yields to his desires and everything is favorable
to u.s. Why, anybody rejoice then. But
the test of Christian character comes in when
the pathway your feet will travel is difficult.
when Ii is hard and thorDy; when above all is
dark and there seems to be rift for the light
TO shine through to gladden. your path when
friends desert and foes surround you; if you can
see the light beyond and rejoice, that is sign
that you are one of Gods children.
"You observe the apostle comes to US with a
very endearing title-brother! 1t iS worth our
while to listen while Paul calls US by this
precious name of brother. He does not COM
mand us at all. He entreats us; he prays to US.
Let us listen to him. He bases his plea upon
the mercies Of God Let us look at the mercies
that have crowned cur days from the earliest
moments MP to the present time. There is no
one here this morning to whom Gods hands
have not been wide open to the bestowment of
blessings, and merces, and comforts. look
back to my own childhood home. l love to
think Of ii. 1t forms the subject of thousand
pleasant memories. How many memories cluster
round that homel But the best of it was that,
with its ten children and father and mother. it
was Christian home sometimes think if it
had not been for the loving teaching of that
mother, who never faltered, I would have been
lost long before this. Though have had sor-
rows and dsappointmen yet goodness and
mercies have followed me all the days of my
life.
~ want You to look back this morning. How
wonderfully things have changed. l see your
pleasant homes. see you with your families
about you, with no one to make you afraid
There is no slave hunter coming up from the
South to drag you back to bondage [Cres of
No, no. blessed be God.1 Your little children
will not be torn away from you. Thank God
your wives will not be taken away down to the
rice swamps and cane fields of the South. Thank
God there has been q change. lGreat emotion,
and cries of Thank God and 'Amen.1 We
count these things in as Gods mercies and let us
bless Him. l remembered, as do you in your
experience, when burdened SOUL not knowing
where to turn, | bowed in PRAYER in the dark
ness of night and cried upon God for mercy. 1
remember how that peace, unspeakable and full
OF glory, came to my heart. then knew mercy
was given; that the peace of God had reached
my SOUL God has been blessing us with bound
less mercies since we gave our hearts to him.
There are four grounds upon which it seems
to me Paul may declare that it is a reasonable
service for us to consecrate bodies to the uses
that the Lord Jesus Christ desires to apply them
to- There are some who think it enough for a per-
son TO join the church and live a reputable life
and that is all there is to itthat they can treat
the body just they please and be Indifferent
to all the laws of health and yet render accepta-
BILE service to God. i believe these bodies ought
to be consecrated to God as much as our souls
first, because all our intellectual and spiritual
advancements have been achieved through the
use of our bodies When we say the body is put
in use, we imply some organ of the body. If /
strike, it is the hand; if walk, it is the foot.
While we are here earth the physical organ
for this is the brain, and it cannot be brought
into existence without increasing the flow of
blood through every part of the brain. A
religious experience that is not based
upon intellectually and knowledge does
not amount to anything. You have
TO set that brain to work to enjoy the high
est intellectual and spiritual results 1t is nee
essary for US to so enjoy to hold our bodies free
from the lusts and appetites of the flesh Many
Christian minister has utterly failed in his
career. because utterly careless of the body; be-
cause they have neglected to consecrate their
bodies to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ
In order that you should have a complete man.
. there should be body. and soul. and spirit You
say your departed friends are in heaven bu,
when you see the dead one in the coffin, YOU say
his body is there, and since the Lord Jesus
Christ has redeemed the entire man, body and
SOUL and spirit all there is of US, there is moth
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